Saturday, October 15, 2011

When you pass through the water, I will be with you...

Excerpt from Exodus 15 (ESV):

6Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
7  In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
8  At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9  The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'
10  You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11  "Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
12  You stretched out your right hand;
the earth swallowed them.

13  "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
14  The peoples have heard; they tremble;

Excerpt from Isaiah 43 (also ESV):

1  But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3  For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.


*********
Can you imagine with me, just for a moment, sitting on the beach, when all of a sudden, you are being hotly pursued and there's no way out but to swim? Then suddenly, the Lord brings about a gushing wind and a path is carved into the sea for your perfect escape route! Imagine running through that path & the sea piled up in walls on either side- fish probably swimming by- (I get a little picture of the tunnel at the Ripley's Aquarium in my head) All this seems pretty crazy, huh? But the truth of the matter, is that God REALLY did this. He REALLY made a way of escape for the Israelites from the Egyptians. That is the power of my God. He who commands winds and waves. He who makes the perfect escape from the enemy, who wants to seek, kill, and destroy. 

That perfect way is Jesus, His one and only son- born of the virgin Mary. He lived the perfect life that you or I never ever could. He was beaten, bruised, and spilled every. last. drop. of. his. blood. All for you. He gave His perfect and sinless life up for you and for me, and died a cruel death on a Roman cross. He was mocked, beaten, and even pierced on His side- an innocent man, who actually BECAME sin & bore the weight of it. God, His Father poured out His wrath on Him, so that you and I might enjoy restored relationship with the Father, because guess what... Three days later, Jesus rose TRIUMPHANTLY from the grave defeating death, making His sacrifice our saving grace! This is the good news! But do you know why there had to be good news? The bad news is that you and I are wretched, filthy, stinking in the nostrils of God, sinners. Every single one of us. Apart from Jesus saving us, every one of us doesn't even need to be taught how to sin. We are fleshly, and we lie, cheat, and steal. We are selfish. We are angry murderers- even if we're only killing people with our words. We deserve death and hell. I need a savior. You need a savior. Jesus is that Savior! That is why He is the good news!!!  

Let this word be an encouragement, that He who is mighty to make the seas dry ground, is the same who is mighty to save you and I!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

New Stuff!

New Jewelry & new stuff going on in life... I have several new bracelet/earring sets on sale for $20 that would make GREAT gifts for Christmas! I am also selling Mary Kay and you can order straight from my website for any gifting needs! Hopefully I can get some photos up on here & on Etsy by the end of this week so that all these fabulous creations can find their way to YOU!

Also in the life of Nicole, I visited a local apartment complex last night that has won my heart. We played games and loved on some kids who live there & I got to share with some little girls how beautiful they are and that Jesus really does love them! By the end of the night, I was being called "Mami" and being told that I am beautiful and that God loves me... Praying for the children who have stolen my heart, that they may truly come to know this Jesus who has wrecked and re-shaped my entire life, and that He may do the same in theirs!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Long Days and Great Gifts

Week 3 completed of my apprenticeship at the salon, check! This week was a lot smoother as far as me knowing what in the world was going on, keeping up with the fast-paced schedule, and my body being used to the hours & being on feet all day. Praise the Lord! I feel like the Lord has placed some pretty incredible people in my life who are absolutely 100% not ashamed of the Gospel and who share Christ with no fear and total confidence and boldness (at least they seem that way to me!)
Anywho, I started praying that that would be me- totally unashamed and totally comfortable in sharing Jesus, whom I love, with hurting people I come into contact with (and most likely shampoo at some point of my talking to them!) Little did I know, that God would send a sweet little fifth grader my way on Saturday, named Grace. She spoke to me like a grown-up and I so enjoyed her sweet spirit as she sat at the shampoo bowl while I shampooed her hair! She was telling me about her friends and what her family was doing this weekend, and so on... I finished rinsing her conditioner and walked with her back to the chair and proceeded to brush out her hair. The stylist came and began her haircut as I observed and she started talking about school and her friends again. I leaned in closer to hear what she was saying as she proceeded to talk about how she had a friend who was Hindu, and how she shared Christ with her friend, and how He is the only one true God. I choked back tears- partially because it was such a sweet picture of how we should share the Gospel with the people around us, and partially because I was ashamed at how fearful I become sometimes and I don't share because of it. How beautiful it was, and such a simple delivery, from the mouth of Grace.

This one step of obedience, of quitting a full-time job with some "security" about it, has revolutionized my entire life. Each new day, my eyes are being opened to the opportunities for ministry- even if it's only a silent prayer over someone as I shampoo their hair- I am humbled and eager to taste and see even more how beautiful and good He is.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Be Brave!

This inspires me to do the things that are seemingly impossible in my life. (click "this" to see what I'm talking about!)
Ever have those mountains that just seem like they are far too impassable? Or those things that you desire to do, but wonder how in the world you'll ever get there? I am learning more and more these days, just how much I really CAN'T do on my own and how a lot of those desires are given to me by God, so that I will trust and seek Him to accomplish the dreams He's given me. So that I will be humbled. So that I will know Him more & see His glory on display in the everyday impossible.
If that doesn't pump you up, I'm not sure what will- Knowing that He who has called you is faithful & He will do what He says He will do!